Sri Mrinalini Mata has been following the situation in Nepal very closely and is deeply praying for God’s loving blessings on all who have been affected by the recent devastating earthquakes. Her heart goes out to these souls. Yogoda Satsanga Society of India is joining the many spiritual and humanitarian societies who are helping with charitable relief efforts for those in the disaster area, and Mrinalini Mata encourages everyone to unite their prayers with those of the monastics in Gurudeva's ashrams and with our SRF/YSS Worldwide Prayer Circle. In the following letter she shares some thoughts about the power of prayer to bring comfort and strength, and the importance and value of reaching out in this way to those who are suffering — especially at times of catastrophe and tragedy such as the Nepal earthquakes.

A Letter From Sri Mrinalini Mata on the Spiritual Power of PrayerDuring Times of Catastrophe

Dear One,

Our beloved Gurudeva, Paramahansa Yogananda, has assured us that our era is one of increasing spiritual light that dispels darkness. Yet when we experience the inevitable ups and downs of life in this material world, and see the suffering of innocent souls caught in the crosscurrents of mass karma, how vulnerable we often feel. At such times, when the heart cries out, “Why?” and our human understanding finds no adequate answer, we need to look beyond its limited scope to the Divine One who is our haven of protection amidst all storms of maya.

Out of God’s thought everything in the universe has come into being. We are His children, and in connecting our thoughts and actions with His all-accomplishing will, we are freed of the illusion of mortal helplessness and actualize the potential each one of us has to be a force for good in this world. Prayer that flows from the soul’s native faith, confidence, and awareness of being unconditionally loved draws upon the limitless reservoir of God’s healing power. When we inwardly talk to Him with the urgency of real devotion and the sincerity of our hearts, saturating our prayer with strength from concentrated thought, it takes on reality in the creative Divine Consciousness. The succor we are visualizing is reinforced by God’s omnipotence and gains materializing power for positive results in our lives and the lives of others. “Most men consider the course of events as natural and inevitable,” Gurudeva told us. “They little know what radical changes are possible through prayer.” Prayer is one of the most effective and immediate ways we can reach out to our world family in times of need. In that consciousness, when we learn of a situation that causes suffering, let our first reaction always be to pray — to surround those affected in God’s protecting love. In so doing, we widen the channel for His blessings to flow to them in ways that infuse a higher power into the aid brought by charitable human efforts; and we open our own hearts to His peace and reassurance.

Deep inner communion with God stills the static of doubt and restlessness and enhances the efficacy of our prayers for others, as does the integrity with which we strive to live by His laws of love and truth. As Guruji reminded us: “The goodness of one soul may effectively neutralize the mass karma of millions.” Because he also knew how much the influence of our individual prayers is magnified when we join with other like-minded souls, Gurudeva founded the Worldwide Prayer Circle as part of the service of his worldwide society. I urge you to participate through your own daily prayers in this united effort to seek God’s blessings for all His children in special need, as all of us in his ashrams do every day. By such prayer, by each positive thought and deed, know that you are helping to intensify in this world the light and love of God, the Supreme Healer and bringer of aid to all.